Checker-brick



Dc. 4, 1951 I H. w. WALTERS 2,577,170

CHECKERBRICK Filed Nov. 1,4, 1949 2 srmETs-SHEET 1 2 le i 4 c? Dec. 4, 1951 H. w. WALTERS CHECKER-BRICK n 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1949 A INVENTOR. o HARRY M. WALTER.:

MVLMM* his 7" TNE Patented Dec. 4, 1951 CHECKER-BRICK HarryvW. Walters, Erie, Pa., assignor of one-half to R. Green Annan, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application November 14, 1949, Serial No. 127,116

(Cl. 26S- 51) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to refractory checkerbricks, and more particularly to interlocking checkerbricks.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a symmetrical checkerbrick which can be laid either side up in courses, which has four sides of equal size and shape, which has considerable heat transfer area, and which interlocks four like checkerbricks grouped in a square when it rests on their adjoining corner portions.

In accordance with this. invention the checkerbrick is of generally square shape, that is, although its side surfaces are irregular it will fit in a square. The brick has a central vertical iiue passage through it, and each corner portion of the brick has a vertical corner wall substantially the same shape and width as one-quarter of the side wall of the central passage. Each side of the brick is provided with a central recess having a vertical side wall substantially the same shape and width as one-half of the side wall of the central passage. Thus, when four of such bricks are grouped side by side in a square, their registering side recesses will form four vertical passages and their adjoining four corner portions will form one vertical passage. All of these passages will be of substantially the same size and shape as the central passages through the. bricks. Each of the upper and lower surfaces of the brick is provided with a central recess having four side walls arranged in a square, but separated from one another at the corners of the square, because each side wall extends diagonally across a corner portion of the brick from one of the side recesses to another. Each of these side walls is located at least slightly closer to the adjacent vertical corner wall than to the central flue passage. Consequently, the recess in the lower surface of the brick is capable of receiving the upper ends of all of the adjoining four corner portions of the underlying group of four bricks t square; Fig. 4 is a v iew similar to Fig. 3, but with a fth brick locking the underlying bricks together; Fig. 5 is a reduced vertical section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4 with a locking brick 2 also below the group of four; Fig. 6 is a plan View of two courses of checkerbricks with the lower course shown in broken lines and with only some of the bricks in the upper course illus,- trated; and Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are plan views of three modifications of this invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a checkerbrick, made of suitable refractory material, is square in the sense that it would fit in a square box or other enclosure. It also is symmetrical so that Yit can be used either side up and with any of its four sides facing in a given direction. The center of the brick is provided with a square flue passage I extending vertically through it with its side walls parallel to adjacent sides of the brick. Each side of the brickis provided with a central recess 2 havingV two parallel sides 3 that meet an inner vertical side 4 at right angles. The parallel sides are half as wide as any side of flue passage I and are the same distance apart as opposite sides of that passage. The inner side 4 of the recess therefore is the same width as any side of theV central passage. VThis results in each side recess 2 in the brick being one-half as large as the central ue passage, so it will be seen that if other like bricks are gr-ouped around the rst brick with their side recesses registering, vertical ue passages will be formed at all four sides of the first brick. Those passages will have the same size and shape as the central passages I in the bricks. A square group of these checkerbricks is shown in Fig. 3, where it will be seen that four iiue passages are formed between the sides of the bricks.

In order to form similar vertical flue passages at the corners of the brick, at each of which it meets three other bricks, each corner portion of the brick is provided with a recess 6 that will form one-quarter of a passage the size of the central passage I. Each of these recesses has two vertical sides 1 meeting at a right angle. Each of these sides is substantially asrwide as one-half of a side of the central passage, and it lies in the same vertical plane as the inner side l of an adjacent side recess 2 in the brick. Consequently, each corner of the brick appears to have two projections 8 disposed at right angles to each other, and each projection has the same thickness as the portion of the brick between the central passage and any one of its side recesses. When four of these bricks are laid side by side in a square, as shown in Fig. 3, their adjoining recessed corner portions form a vertical flue passage at the center of the square `having the same size and shape as the central passage I in each brick. The result is that all of the vertical passages, whether extending through the bricks or between their sides or past their corners, are of substantially the same size and shape and are spaced uniform distances apart. This is also shown in Fig. 6. Consequently, the bricks in each course can be staggered relative to those in the courses immediately above and below, and yet all of the flues in each course will register with all of those above and below them.

It is a feature of this invention that each brick is so shaped that it can'lock four underlying bricks together, as well asfour overlying bricks. Accordingly, the upper surfacev of each brick is provided with a central locking recess I I having four side walls I2 arranged in fa square.

but separated from one another. This is bevcause the four side walls of the locking recess extend diagonally across the different corner portions of the brick from one side recess 2 to another. Preferably, these side walls are straight, and each is only slightly closer to the adiacent corner recess 6 of the brick than to the central iiuepassage I, so that a proiecting lower corner portion of an overlying Vbrick can i'lt down into the locking recess without the fit being too loose. As shown in Fig. 2, the bottom of each brick is provided with a locking recess I3 having side walls I4, like the one in its upper surface. It will be seen in Fig. 3 that the upwardly projecting corner portions oi the four bricks, where they come together at the center of the group, form a raised- Octagon. This octagon will fit un into the bottom locking recess I3 in a brick resting on the inner corners of the grouped bricks, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, while the corner portions of the upper brick will fit down into the upper locking recesses II in the underlying bricks. The central flue passage I through the upper brick will register with the vertical passage formed by the corner portions of the bricks proiectinar up into the bottom recess I3 in the upper brick. Likewise. the vertical passages formed between the adjoining corner portions of bricks in each course will register with the central passages through the bricks in the adjoining courses above and below. In addition to holding the bricks in each course together, the interlocking arrangement of this invention has the further advantage of preventing the bricks from rotating on vertical axes relative to one another. This is important when the bricks are Used in tall structures, such as blast furnace stoves, because it prevents twisting or spiralling which otherwise will occur and gradually move the ues in the different courses out oi' alignment with those above and below them. It will be seen that interlocking is accomplished without the use of small projections of thin section which would be likely to be broken o the bricks in handling or in shipping them. The principles of this invention can be incorporated in checkerbrick of other shapes, as long as the bricks are of generally square shape lwith each corner portion of a brick having a vertical corner wall substantially the same shape and width as one-quarter of the side wall of the central passage through the brick, and with each side recess having a vertical side wall substantially the saine shape and width as one-half of the side wall of the central passage. For example, the brick shown in Fig. '7 has a, cylindrical central passage I6, arcuate corner rQQQsses I'I whose side walls are the same width as onequarter of the wall of the central passage, and semicylindrical side recesses Iii equal in size to one-half of the central passage. When at least four of these bricks are laid side by side in a square, their side recesses will register to form cylindrical passages between the bricks, and their corner recesses willregister to form a cylindrical passage between therfour adjoining corners of the bricks. As in the first embodiment of the invention, the top and bottom of each brick is provided with a locking recess I9 which has fourv side walls 2S arranged in a square but with their ends spaced apart. Each of these side walls extends diagonally across a corner portion of the brick from one side recess I8 to another. They are located at least slightly closer to the adjacent corner recesses than to the central passage so that the different courses of bricks can be staggered in order to interlock them in the manner described in connection with the rlrst ern-V bodiment.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the square'central flue passage is turned 90 degrees from the one shown in Fig. l. Here again, the side recesses 2! are each equal in size to about one-half of the central passage, but each recess has only two sides 22 meeting' at a right angle. There are no corner recesses, but each vertical corner wall 23 is the same shape and width as one-quarter of the side wall of the central passage. In other words, the corner wall is flat and the same width as one side of the central passage. When a group of these bricks are laid in a square, each pair of registering side recesses 2l will form a square vertical passage between two bricks, and the adjoining corner portions of four bricks also will form a square vertical ue. The top and bottom of the brick are each provided with a locking recess 24 having side walls 25 arranged in a square. Each side wall extends diagonally across a corner portion of the brick from one side recess' 2l to another and is at least slightly closer to the flatccrner wall 23 than to the central passage. Diierent courses of bricks are locked together in the same manner as shown and described in connection with the first embodiment of .this invention.

A still further form that the invention may take is shown in Fig. 9, where the brick is formed, in effect, from fourV cylindrical units integrally connected in a square. -The brick has a central vertical flue passage 25 provided with convex sides, and side recesses 2? each of which corresponds in size and shape to onehalf of the central passage. The corner portions of the brick are' not provided with recesses, but the corner walls 23 are arcuate and aswld@ as one side of the central passage. When a group of these bricks are laid in a square, ver tical ilue passages will be formed between their sides, and a vertical passage of the same shape will be formed by each group of four bricks between their adjoining corners. The upper and lower surfaces of the brick are each provided with a locking recess 29 having four side walls 30 arranged in a square. The side walls extend diagonally across the corner portions of the brick from one side recess 2l to another. These bricks interlock in the same way as those described above. y

According to the provisions of the patentl statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what l pow consider to represent its best em- -each corner portion of the brick having a vertical corner wall substantially the same shape and width as one-quarter ofthe side wall'of said passage, each side of the brick being provided with a central recess having a vertical sidewall substantially the same shape and width as onehalf of the side wall of said passage, whereby when four of such bricks are grouped side by side in a square each of the four'verticalpassages formed by their registering side recesses and the one vertical passage formed by the adjoining four corner portions of the bricks will be substantially the same size and shape as said Iiue passage, and ea-ch of the upper and lower surfaces of said checkerbrick being provided with a central recess having four side walls arranged in a square but separated from one another, each of said four side walls extending diagonally across a different corner portion of the brick from one of said side recesses to another and being located at least slightly closer t the adjacent said vertical corner wall than to said flue passage, whereby the recess in the lower surface of such a brick is formed to receive the upper endsl of all of said adjoining four corner portions of said grouped bricks to lock them together.

2. A checkerbrick of generally square shape having a central vertical nue passage through it, each. corner portion of the brick being provided with a recess having a vertical side wall substantially the same shape and width as one-quarter of the side wall of said passage, each side of the brick being provided with a central recess having a Vertical side wall substantially the same shape and width as one-half of the side wall of said passage, whereby when four of such bricks are grouped side by side in a square each of the four vertical passages formed by their registering side recesses and the one vertical passage formed by the registering corner recesses in the adjoining four corner portions of the brick will be substantially the same size and shape as said lue passage, and each of the upper and lower surfaces of said checkerbrick being provided with a central recess having four side walls arranged in a square but separated from one another, each of said four side walls extending diagonally across a different corner portion of the brick from one of said side recesses to another and being located at least slightly closer to the adjacent said corner recess than to said flue passage, whereby the recess in the lower surface of such a brick is formed to receive the upper ends of all of said adjoining four corner portions of said grouped bricks to lock them together.

3. A checkerbrick of generally square shape having a central vertical iiue passage through it that is polygonal in horizontal section, each corner portion of the brick being provided with a recess having a vertical side wall substantially the same shape and width as the nearest one-quarter of the side wall of said passage, each side of the brick being provided with a central recess having a vertical side wall substantially the same shape and width as the nearest one-half of the side wall of said passage, whereby when four of such bricks are grouped side by side in a square each of the four vertical passages formed by their registering side recesses and the one vertical passage formed by the registering corner recesses in the adjoining four corner portions of the brick will be substantially the same size andshape as said flue passage, and each of the upper'and lower surfaces of said checkerbrick being provided with a central recess having four side walls arranged in a square but separated from one another, each of said four side wall extending diagonally across a different cor- Vner portion of the brick vfrom one of said side recesses to another and being located at least slightly closer to the adjacent said corner recess than to said ue passage, whereby the recess in the lower surface of such a brick is formed to receive the upper ends of all of said adjoining four corner portions of said grouped bricks to lock them together.

4. A checkerbrick oi generally square shape having a square ue passage extending vertically through its center with the sides of the passage parallel to the adjacent sides of the brick, each corner portion of the brick being provided with a recess having two vertical sides meetingr at a right angle and each side being substantially as wide as one-half of a side ofrsaid passage, each side of the brick being' provided with a central recess having three vertical sides meeting at right angles and two of them eachbeing substantially as wide as one-half of a side of said passage and with the intermediate side of the recess 'substantially the same width as said passage side, whereby when four of such bricksl are grouped side by side in a square each of the four vertical passagesformed by their registering side recesses and the one vertical passage formed by the registering corner recesses in the adjoining four corner portions of the brick will be substantially the same size and shape as said flue passage, and each of the upper and lower surfaces of said checkerbrick being provided with a central recess having four side walls arranged in a square but separated from one another, each of said four side walls extending diagonally across a different corner portion of the brick from one of said side recesses to another and being located at least slightly closer to the adjacent said corner recess than to said ue passage, whereby the recess in the lower surface of such a brick is formed to receive the upper ends of all of said adjoining four corner portions of said grouped bricks t0 lock them together.

5. A checkerbrick of generally square shape having a square ue passage extending vertically through its center with the sides of the passage disposed diagonally of the brick, each corner portion of the brick having a flat diagonal corner wall substantially the same width as one side of said passage, each side of the brick being provided with a central recess having two flat vertical sides meeting at a right angle with each side substantially ,as wide as said side of the passage, whereby when four of such bricks are grouped side by side in a square each of the four vertical passages formed by their registering side recesses and the one vertical passage formed by the diagonal corner walls of the adjoining four corner portions of the brick will be substantially the same size and shape as said flue passage, and each of the upper and lower surfaces of said checkerbrick being provided with a central recess having four side walls arranged in a square but separated from one another, each of said four side walls extending diagonally across a diierent corner portion of the brick from one of said side recesses to another and being located at least slightly closer to the adjacent said diagonal corner wall than to said flue passage, whereby the recess in the lower surface of such a brick is formed to receive the upper ends of all of said adjoining four corner portions of said grouped bricks to lock them together.

6. A checkerbrick of generally square shape having a central vertical ue passage through it that is cylindrical, each corner portion of the brick being provided with a recess having a vertical side wall that forms an arc equivalent to about one-quarter of the side wall of said passage, each side of the brick being provided with a central recess having a vertical side wall that forms an arc equivalent to about half of said passage wall, whereby when four of such bricks are grouped side by side in a square each of the four vertical passages formed by their registering side recesses and the one vertical passage formed by the registering corner recesses in the adjoining four corner portions of the brick will be substantially the same size and shape as said flue passage, and each oi. the upper and lower surfaces of said checkerbrick being provided with a central recess having four side walls arranged in a square but separated from one another, each of said four side walls extending diagonally across a different corner portion of the brick from one of said side recesses to another and being located at least slightly closer to the adjacent said corner recess than to said flue passage, whereby the recess in the lower surface of such a brick is formed to receive the upper ends of all of said adjoining four corner portions of said grouped bricks to lock them together.

7. A checkerbrick of generally square shape having a central vertical ue passage through it, each corner portion of the brick having a verhalf of the side wall of said passage, whereby when four of such bricks are grouped side by side in a square each of the four vertical passages formed by their registering side recesses and the one vertical passage formed by the adjoining four corner portions of the bricks will be substantially the same size and shape as said flue passage, and each of the upper and lower surfaces of said checkerbrick being provided with a central recess having four substantially straight side walls arranged in a square but separated equidistantly from one another, each of said four side walls extending diagonally across a different corner portion of the brick from one of said side recesses to another and being located only slightly closer to the adjacent said vertical corner Wall as to said flue passage, whereby the recess in the lower surface of such a brick is formed to receive the upper ends of all of said adjoining four corner portions of said grouped bricks to lock them together.

HARRY W. WALTERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,880,011 Boynton Sept. 27, 1932 1,927,834 Hughes Sept. 26, 1933 1,976,575- MacDonald Oct. 9, 1934 

